Kamis, 03 Januari 2013

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is looking for a striker with power and pace

Chelsea triggered the 7million escape clause in Ba contract with Newcastle on Wednesday, and the player is ready to leave St James' Park.

Pardew was looking to take positives from the situation, and he believes Ba and former strike-partner Papiss Cisse were not a natural combination.

As a result he is hoping to recruit a player similar to Gabriel Obertan, with Marseille's Loic Remy reportedly at the top of his wanted list.

Pardew said: "I would like, if possible, to have a player with real power and pace. Sometimes, we lack a little bit of pace.

"Obertan brings that to the team, but when Gabby is not in the team, that's something I would like to see in the player that comes in because that will help Papiss, and also somebody who is going to threaten at set-plays because it has been a weakness for us.

"But it's easy to say what I would really like - it's what I can get in this window and the options are not numerous. There are only a few players, really, who are available."